Vehicle occupant restraint apparatus

Abstract

A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12) supported on the vehicle door (16). The door (16) has a detachable inner trim panel section (32) with an outer side surface (42) that partly defines the occupant compartment (20). The apparatus further includes a source of inflation fluid (14) and a manifold (52) for directing inflation fluid from the source (14) into the restraint (12) to inflate the restraint (12). The detachable inner trim panel section (32) of the door (16) is a panel portion of the restraint (12) which moves into the occupant compartment (20) upon inflation of the restraint (12), and has an inner side surface (40) for contacting the inflation fluid directed into the restraint (12). The inner side surface (40) of the panel portion of the restraint (12) partly defines the volume enclosed within the restraint (12) when the restraint (12) is inflated.

Having described the invention, the following is claimed: 
     
       1. Apparatus for restraining an occupant of a vehicle occupant compartment, said apparatus comprising: a vehicle part having a detachable panel section, said detachable panel section of said vehicle part having an outer side surface means for partly defining the occupant compartment;   an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint supported on said vehicle part, said restraint having a folded air bag portion which moves into an unfolded condition extending from said vehicle part into the occupant compartment upon inflation of said restraint;   said restraint further having a panel portion which comprises said detachable panel section of said vehicle part, said panel portion of said restraint being fixed to said air bag portion to move from said vehicle part with said air bag portion;   a source of inflation fluid; and   means for directing inflation fluid from said source into said restraint to inflate said restraint;   said restraint including means for separating said air bag portion into distinct sections that adjoin respective distinct sections of said panel portion, said sections of said air bag portion separately applying respective fluid pressure forces to said respective sections of said panel portion upon inflation of said restraint;   said sections of said air bag portion having elongated tubular shapes, said means for separating said air bag portion into distinct sections comprising a plurality of mounting rods which extend longitudinally between said sections of said air bag portion.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said panel portion of said restraint has an inner side surface means for contacting said inflation fluid directed into said restraint, said inner side surface means thus partly defining the volume enclosed within said restraint when said restraint is inflated. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said air bag portion of said restraint defines the entire volume enclosed within said restraint when said restraint is inflated. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said detachable panel section of said vehicle part is detachable entirely from said vehicle part and is moved to a location spaced from said vehicle part upon inflation of said restraint. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said vehicle part is a vehicle door having an inner trim panel, said detachable panel section of said vehicle part being a detachable section of said inner trim panel. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for sensing the occurrence of a side impact vehicle collision and means for causing inflation fluid to be emitted from said source in response to a sensed side impact vehicle collision. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus for restraining an occupant of a vehicle occupant compartment, said apparatus comprising: a vehicle part having a detachable panel section, said detachable panel section of said vehicle part having an outer side surface means for partly defining the occupant compartment;   an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint supported on said vehicle part, said restraint having an air bag portion which moves into an inflated condition extending from said vehicle part into the occupant compartment upon inflation of said restraint;   said restraint further having a panel portion which comprises said detachable panel section of said vehicle part, said panel portion of said restraint being fixed to said air bag portion of said restraint to move from said vehicle part with said air bag portion of said restraint;   a source of inflation fluid;   means for directing inflation fluid from said source into said restraint to inflate said restraint; and   mounting means for holding said air bag portion of said restraint against said panel portion in a configuration in which said air bag portion has sections which are separated from each other at said panel portion by said mounting means, said sections of said air bag portion adjoining respective sections of said panel portion and separately applying respective fluid pressure forces to said respective sections of said panel portion;   said sections of said air bag portion communicating in common with said source of inflation fluid to receive inflation fluid from said source upon inflation of said restraint.